Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: Violent protests erupted across Manipur’s Ukhrul district on July 25 after Assam Rifles personnel detained four local men. The incident began around 5:00 PM near a cement factory in Hungpung village.
The Hungpung Village Administrative Council identified the detainees as Yuimung Khapai Shimray, 28, Shomi Shokchui, 38, Hungreithei Kasomva, 37, and Khuirami KSV, 36. The council filed a complaint with the local police, claiming the men were simply tending to their fields when soldiers seized them without provocation. The council demanded an immediate investigation into the arrest.
Outraged residents intercepted a military convoy at S. Laho near National Highway 202. The standoff turned chaotic. Clashes broke out in Shokvao, Litan, and Shangshak Khullen as crowds faced off against the security force. Angry villagers overturned two military vehicles, leading soldiers to deploy tear gas and fire live rounds to push back the mob.
Video footage showed residents pulling down barricades to stop the convoy. One clip revealed that the four men were eventually released, handed over to the Tangkhul Naga Long through the chairman of Laho village. According to reports, the detainees arrived unharmed. One source stated, "with no harassment reported from the security forces during the abduction."
Separately, security forces executed a series of statewide operations on July 25. Officers raided areas near Shangkai and Mongkot Chepu villages, seizing a cache of weapons that included a pompi gun, a 12-bore rifle, nine live rounds, homemade mortar shells, and an improvised explosive device. Police also arrested KCP (City Meitei) cadres Urikhinbam Malemnganba Singh and Yaikhom Abhinash Meetei in Imphal. Additionally, authorities busted a drug operation at a Patsoi Lamkhai workshop, arresting co-owners Sheikh Salauddin and Chongtham Anilkumar Singh after finding 346 grams of brown sugar inside a Pajero. Finally, two UNLF (P) members, Mutum Seitaraj Singh and Thounaojam Rakesh Meitei, were arrested in Thoubal Bazar for recruitment activities.
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